Donald Trump, the US president, has stated that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin will uphold any truce in Ukraine.
Speaking with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was in the US attempting to secure security guarantees for Ukraine, he made this claim on Thursday.
When the US leader’s recent remark about referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator was brought up during the Washington meeting, he responded, “Did I say that?”
Despite Starmer’s warnings that the absence of a US “backstop” for a settlement might incite the Russian leader to repeat his February 2022 invasion, Trump maintained that he could be relied on Putin to uphold any truce with Ukraine.
When questioned about Putin, Trump told reporters, sitting next to Starmer in the Oval Office, “I think he’ll keep his word.”
“I’ve known him for a while, and I spoke with him. I don’t think he’s going to break his word.”
Trump went on to say that although Britain is capable of taking care of itself, he will always support the British if they require assistance.
During the flight to the US capital, Starmer had stated that a “ceasefire without a backstop” would allow Putin to “wait and to come again” in Kyiv.
While he intended to “work with you to make sure that peace deal is enduring,” the British prime also informed Trump at the White House that it was a “deal that nobody breaches.”
Trump, a lifelong admirer of the British royal family, was then presented by Starmer with a letter from King Charles III inviting him to a historic second state visit by a US president.
“This is unprecedented and has never happened before,” Starmer remarked.
When Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator without elections” last week, European leaders’ concerns grew. However, with Starmer by his side, Trump humorously dismissed the remark.
“Did I say that? When questioned if he still stood by the remark he made on his Truth Social network, Trump answered, “I can’t believe I said that.” “Next query.”
On Friday, Trump will welcome Zelensky to the White House.